I think that’s partly because Last Jedi took all the setup work of TFA, and tossed it contemptuously over its shoulder and off a cliff!
There was plenty to work with there, Rey beginning her journey with Luke, Luke troubled by the past, Snoke as a mysterious new villain, Kylo Ren as a bad guy wannabe who’s torn by his conscience - but Rian Johnson (whom I really rate as a director in general, Brick and Knifes Out in particular) just tossed most of it aside, or undermined it.
That and the pointless casino planet episode, and the awful, awful humour (“Can you hear me now?” jokes? In Star Wars?) just brought it all to a shuddering halt IMO.
Then in the third film, JJA seemed to be trying to get things back on track a bit, but he was starting from such a bad position, it was always going to be a challenge.
From that point of view (which I know may not the universal one) I think Rise of Skywalker was a minor miracle.
I think that’s partly because Last Jedi took all the setup work of TFA, and tossed it contemptuously over its shoulder and off a cliff!
There was plenty to work with there, Rey beginning her journey with Luke, Luke troubled by the past, Snoke as a mysterious new villain, Kylo Ren as a bad guy wannabe who’s torn by his conscience - but Rian Johnson (whom I really rate as a director in general, Brick and Knifes Out in particular) just tossed most of it aside, or undermined it.
That and the pointless casino planet episode, and the awful, awful humour (“Can you hear me now?” jokes? In Star Wars?) just brought it all to a shuddering halt IMO.
Then in the third film, JJA seemed to be trying to get things back on track a bit, but he was starting from such a bad position, it was always going to be a challenge.
From that point of view (which I know may not the universal one) I think Rise of Skywalker was a minor miracle.